Juwan Howard, the latest name to emerge in the Knicks’ coaching search, has a powerful connection in the team’s front office, notes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. GM Scott Perry is a former assistant at the University of Michigan, and his first year with the Wolverines was Howard’s last season there.
Howard will be the 10th candidate to talk to Perry and team president Steve Mills, who were in Europe this week to interview former Cavaliers coach David Blatt and to scout Luka Doncic, along with other prospects. Despite the long list of interviewees, Bondy hears that the Knicks’ next coach may be someone not yet mentioned by the media.
There’s more news from New York:
- Howard has a long list of former teammates with coaching experience who could potentially fill out his staff if he gets the Knicks job, notes Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype. The list includes Adrian Griffin, Nick Van Exel, David Vanterpool, James Posey, Darvin Ham, Jamaal Magloire, God Shammgod, Rafer Alston and John Lucas III.
- If the Spurs make Kawhi Leonard available in trade the summer, the Knicks should go all in, even if it costs them Kristaps Porzingis and this year’s first-rounder, contends Tommy Beer of Forbes. Leonard’s scoring ability, defensive prowess and record of big-game performances make him a player that a franchise can be built around, Beer argues. He adds that the Knicks are hoping to construct a contender by surrounding Porzingis with top-level free agents, but their recent record in free agency casts doubt on that plan. He cautions that New York should make the deal with the Spurs only if team doctors determine that Leonard’s quad injury won’t be a long-term issue and he agrees to a four-year extension.
- One-time Knicks coach Larry Brown remains optimistic about Emmanuel Mudiay‘s prospects in New York, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. Brown tried to recruit Mudiay to SMU before he opted for China, and he believes the 22-year-old can excel by getting into top physical condition. “I don’t think Emmanuel has ever been in the greatest shape of his life,” Brown said. “That position you have to be an elite athlete and in unbelievable shape. I don’t know until he got to the NBA if he has ever been coached the way he needed to be coached.” Mudiay was placed in the league’s concussion protocol after hitting his head late in the season and was just cleared for basketball activities last week.
Trading Porzingis is a STUPID suggestion. The Knicks will be no better off and Leonard can leave after 1 season . Brilliant, just. Brilliantly suggestion.
If you read the entire passage, it’s stated if “he agrees to a four year extension.”
Reading is fundamental.
Why bother reading or comprehending when you can glance at a headline and then foment outrage like the rest of the internet?
Trading KP for Kawhi is exactly the type of short-sighted, high-cost move that derailed the Knicks each of the last 400 times they rebuilt. You’d think people would learn by now.
Porzingus will have a major injury within two years. Big men like him don’t handle running the floor well. Cash in now while we can. I don’t want to see us hit rock bottom when he gets hurt. I would bet on Kawhi staying healthy over Kristaps.
Durant doesn’t seem to have any problems as a 7 footer running the floor like a point guard.
Durant and Porzingus have totally different body types. Durant is built and moves like a perimeter player. Porzingus is built like a stick figure. He doesn’t have the muscle mass to support his frame moving like we want him to move. Five years from now we will be discussing what could have been, not what he is. I am very comfortable saying this.
I would too… but the issue is if you trade for Kawhi and pay Kawhi’s salary you have nothing left to make the team better.
KP+ Pick + Frank N. + Kantor
for
Leonard + Mills
You are out of your mind if you think Kawhi is worth that much. Porzingis and the pick is enough.
Knicks will have to beat Clip deal of Harris and two firsts as a baseline. Also… Dolan
You’re assuming Kantor opts in. Well that’s silly.
I am. Knicks move a crap deal. Alternatively they can swap Noah’s even crappy deal, but that’ll cost more.
If the Knicks did move Porzingus for Leonard, I don’t think they’d need to move the draft pick with him. The Spurs get a unicorn – a pretty good return considering the situation. But if I’m the Knicks, I hold off pulling any deal involving KP and Leonard. Leonard’s injury and mindset have to be questioned. Package a couple of number one picks and Ntilikina and/or Hardaway and cross my fingers…
KP also coming off severe injury, no?
KP’s injury is expected to take close to a year, whereas Leonard’s injury was cleared months ago. Either his injury is crippling, or he’s given up on his team. Either way, the risk would be greater for the Knicks.
Yes to your first scenario, but Leonard giving up on San Antonio doesn’t mean he’s given up on basketball. Unless he’s Andrew Bynum, teams looking to take him should welcome that news, no? If healthy, he’s a top 5 player, and tied with Davis for best two way player.
On what planet is Davis a top 2 2-way player?
Are you serious?
I agree.
I agree. The knicks should not trade kp. But I think in order to surround kp with talent we need to weigh the options of everyone else is available for trade including our draft pick pending his injury isn’t career threatening, he signs a new contract and checking his pyschological state of mind. If not then we need to build through the draft and take our lumps until it comes together. I personally like building through the draft much better.
Still think the Celts have the best ammo. Tatum (or Brown), Morris, Rosier and the Lakers 1st would be where I’d start. Gives the Spurs some youth, toughness and a high pick and gives Celts arguably the best starting 5 in the league.
Bingo. Spurs would likely ask for both Brown and Tatum, but with their performances in the playoffs it seems like a hard sell. Your offer seems more reasonable.
Porzingus will have a major injury within two years. Big men like him don’t handle running the floor well. Cash in now while we can. I don’t want to see us hit rock bottom when he gets hurt. I would bet on Kawhi staying healthy over Kristaps.
Agree. It’s not any old Injury, and these things tend to mess with big men a lot more than the rest longterm. It’s also why I don’t think KP+late lotto pick alone will be enough for Leonard, especially if Clips are poised to potentially offer Harris + TWO late lotto picks or CLE offers Love + their late lotto pick (via nets).
Isiah Thomas would make that trade in a heartbeat. Of course, he wouldn’t have any 1st’s left to trade. Trading KP for KL even straight up would basically say that the Knicks goal as an organization is to make the playoffs ASAP with a ceiling of the 3rd seed in the East the next few years before going into the lottery again. That assumes KL would re-up with such an organization.